Abland and Tiber join forces to develop Sandton Gate

Companies and residential buyers who are looking for a prominent but convenient address, quality office premises or state-of-the-art apartments that still offer good value for money, need look no further than Sandton Gate. This mixed-use precinct, will offer a quality office, retail, residential and lifestyle environment on the doorstep of Sandton, with the added benefits of highly convenient access, a vast choice of public transport options and a secure precinct environment.

Abland and Tiber have joined forces to develop the Sandton Gate precinct, combining their respective strengths to deliver a carefully conceived, and ultimately well-executed, product. The sizeable site on which the precinct will unfold, has been assembled over several years by Tiber. Therefore, when Tiber’s CEO Fernando Cardoso was approached by Abland’s MD Jurgens Prinsloo to consider a JV approach for the development of a precinct, incorporating properties that Abland had purchased in the same area, discussions commenced and it was soon very evident that the synergies and complementary experience and expertise could be combined to create a world-class mixed-use precinct, to be known as Sandton Gate.

“We believe that the strong complementary skills and expertise within our two companies can be harnessed to successfully deliver, execute and manage a development of this magnitude,” comments Cardoso.

Prinsloo adds: “We have the opportunity to do something special here. This is an exceptional site for a strong nodal development.”

Situated on William Nicol Drive between Sandton Drive and Republic Road, Sandton Gate will be right on the doorstep of South Africa’s economic business centre. The precinct is easily accessible via a number of major arterial routes from Sandton, Hyde Park and the N1 freeway as well as finding itself alongside the current S5 Sandton – Fourways Gautrain Bus Route. It is also located on one of the planned routes for the extended Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which in turn will link it conveniently to the Rosebank and Sandton Gautrain stations.

The site provides 130,000 square metres of developable floor area made up of approximately 80,000 square metres of offices, 400 residential units and a variety of lifestyle and smaller retail amenities. This will include a health club, restaurants or cafés, and other smaller format convenience amenities which will contribute to the overall appeal of the precinct.

The site is adjacent to the Braamfontein Spruit, which is a very popular mountain biking route. The entire stretch of river adjoining the site will be rehabilitated and upgraded as part of the project, thereby encouraging cyclists and local residents to make use of this open space and the other amenities provided.

The concept of a mixed-use precinct is strongly aligned with the new urbanist principles of creating pedestrian friendly, live-work-play environments. Such environments are also more eco-friendly in that they reduce people’s commutes and carbon footprints. Building on these important sustainability goals, the intention is for every commercial building in Sandton Gate to obtain a minimum Four Star Green Star SA rating. ”We are also proud to say that the entire precinct will be Green Star SA rated and that Sandton Gate is one of the sites being used as a pilot in the development of the precinct rating tool by the Green Building Council of South Africa,” Prinsloo notes.

Engagement with the City of Johannesburg and local residents has been very positive to date. The first phase of Sandton Gate will include all the necessary infrastructure, plus 10,000 to 15,000 square metres of commercial office space, and a residential component which will commence in the latter part of 2017. Thereafter, the development will progress according to market demand. The commercial buildings will be developed as high-end A-Grade and P-Grade buildings offering maximum flexibility to accommodate large, medium and smaller users. The residential units will be available for sale and/or leasing while the commercial buildings will be available for leasing. The Abland / Tiber Joint Venture will manage all aspects of the development, from the initial planning, design, construction, leasing and ultimately the management of the entire precinct.

The joint venture’s ability to expertly manage the development process from inception to completion is a major strength. Tiber’s track record is evidenced by some of South Africa’s most iconic buildings which can be seen dotted along the Sandton skyline. This, blended with Abland’s pedigree in responsibly developing best-in-class, innovative and sustainable developments across the country, lays the foundation for the delivery of an inimitable world-class precinct development.

“Having decades of experience in this environment and a solid understanding of the process, will enable the Abland/Tiber JV to control the delivery from the outset right through to the professional management of the precinct. This lends great strength to our partnership and will ensure that we can roll out a well-conceived, value-engineered and efficiently managed product, ensuring the delivery of high quality but competitive pricing to the market,” comments Prinsloo.

Savings achieved through efficiencies in the development process can be passed on to occupiers, who will benefit from highly competitive rentals in a prime node. This factor, combined with Sandton Gate’s safe, secure and attractive precinct nature, its easily accessible location, and its focus on sustainability, are sure to make it a highly desirable location to live and work in.